System for method of disassembling end-of-life vehicles

Abstract

A disassembling process of end-of-life vehicles (ELVS) takes place in a circular two-story structure. An elevator moves a vehicle between stories of the structure, and a conveyor system moves the vehicle between facilities in each story. The first and last steps in the disassembling process take place on the first story and the other steps take place in facilities arranged sequentially around the perimeter of the second story.

1 . A system for disassembling end-of-life vehicles, said disassembling comprising a plurality of steps, said system comprising: 
 a building comprising a first story and a second story;    wherein each of said first and second stories comprises at least one facility, each facility corresponding to one of said steps.    
   
   
       2 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a vehicle enters said building at said first story, and said first story facility comprises a first facility corresponding to a chronologically first one of said steps.  
   
   
       3 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a vehicle body exits said building at said first story, and said first story facility comprises a last facility corresponding to a chronologically last one of said steps.  
   
   
       4 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a vehicle enters said building at said first story, a vehicle body exits said building at said first story, and said first story facility comprises a first facility corresponding to a chronologically first one of said steps and a last facility corresponding to a chronologically last one of said steps.  
   
   
       5 . The system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said second story facility comprises an intermediate facility, corresponding to a chronologically intermediate one of said steps.  
   
   
       6 . The system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said second story facility comprises a plurality of intermediate facilities, each corresponding to a chronologically intermediate one of said steps, and said intermediate facilities are disposed sequentially in an order of said intermediate steps along a periphery of said second story.  
   
   
       7 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said building is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       8 . The system as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said building is substantially cylindrical and said intermediate facilities are disposed along a circumference of said second story.  
   
   
       9 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an elevator configured to move a vehicle between said first and second stories.  
   
   
       10 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor configured to move a vehicle within said second story.  
   
   
       11 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said steps comprise: 
 recording a vehicle's information;    recovery of liquid products;    recovery of explosive components;    recovery of re-usable components;    recovery of interior/exterior components;    recovery of engine, discharge system, and partial chassis components; and    crushing of said vehicle.    
   
   
       12 . The system as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said first story facility comprises a facility for said recording and a facility for said crushing, and said second story facility comprises a facility for said liquid recovery, a facility for said explosive recovery, a facility for said re-usable recovery, a facility for said interior/exterior recovery, and a facility for said engine/discharge system/partial chassis recovery.  
   
   
       13 . A method of disassembling end-of-life vehicles comprising steps of recording a vehicle's information; recovering liquid products; recovering explosive components; recovering re-usable components; recovering interior/exterior components; recovering engine, discharge system, and partial chassis components; and crushing of said vehicle, 
 wherein at least one of said steps takes place on a first story of a building and at least another one of said steps takes place on a second story of said building.    
   
   
       14 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said first story step comprises said recording and said crushing.  
   
   
       15 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said second story step comprises said recovering liquid products; said recovering explosive components; said recovering re-usable components; said recovering interior/exterior components; and said recovering engine, discharge system, and partial chassis components.  
   
   
       16 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said second story steps take place sequentially around a periphery of said second story.  
   
   
       17 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said building is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       18 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said building is substantially cylindrical and said second story steps take place sequentially around a circumference of said second story.  
   
   
       19 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said building comprises an elevator which moves said vehicle between said first and second stories.  
   
   
       20 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said building comprises a conveyor which moves said vehicle within said second story.